Ever since his impressive lightweight debut against Shuichiro Yoshino earlier this year, Shakur Stevenson has been calling for fights with the biggest names in the division.
The likes of George Kambosos Jr, Vasiliy Lomachenko and Gervonta Davis have all been on the receiving end of callouts from Stevenson, as he looks to build on his reputation as one of the most talented fighters in the sport.
The fight Stevenson has called for most, however, is undisputed champion Devin Haney, who recently announced he would be moving up to super lightweight for a shot at WBC champion Regis Prograis.
In a recent interview with TMZ, Stevenson ‘dared’ Haney to return to lightweight, and claimed Haney was well aware of how stiff a test he would be.
“I dare him [Haney] to come back to 135 and try me. I pray that that’s what he plans on doing, and I can show the world that I’m the truth.
Right now I’m looking at Lomachenko. But, after everything unfolds and he fights Regis, and they can build it to being a big fight, I dare him to come back down to 135.
I’m here! But for him to come back down and fight me is dangerous, it’s a dangerous thing to do. I’m a big risk, I’m hard to deal with for anybody and I think he knows that.
I just don’t think he’s got it in him, so I give the fight a 20% chance of happening.”
Haney will be made champion in recess by the WBC when he moves up to take on Prograis, with a fight between Stevenson and Lomachenko likely to be ordered for the vacant title.
This would guarantee Haney a shot at the belt should he decide to return to lightweight, though this seems like wishful thinking, given how open he has been about his struggles making the weight.